Hat shape retainer for men&#39;s hats



Dec. 27, 1949 BOYLE HAT SHAPE RETAINER FOR MEN '5 HATS Filed Dec.

Hubert 6. Boy/e JNVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES ?ATE NT OFFICE.

HAT SHAPE RETAINER FOQKMENS HATS.

Hilbert G. Boyle, Ghica' fl, Ill.

Application December 10, 1945., Sen a'lzNm 7 9 51 4 Claims. 11

This invention relates to new, and useful improvements in shape retainers and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a shape retainer for men's hats.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a'shape retainer for mens hats including a base member, pressure members and novel and improved means for selectively adjusting said pressure members relative to the base member to effect a pressure upon a hat brim bearing against the base member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shape retainer for hats so designed as to facilitate the same to be applicable for shaping hat brims of various thicknesses.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character that is simple and practical in construction, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, strong and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the present invention in assembled form.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure 1 and showing a hat applied in position to the same.

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a group side elevational view of the present invention in disassembled form, and with parts thereof broken away and shown in section; and,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner in which the guide rods are secured to the pressure plates.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l0 represents an oval base member havin a concaved upper face l2 that conforms to the lower face of a hat brim l4 and a central opening I6.

Hinged to opposite sides. 18. and. 2,0, of. the base member In, are the, central. extended portion 22 of a pair of semi-oval retaining plates 24 and 25 having outwardly projecting adjacent locking lugs or arms 28 and 30 at their end portions 32 that frictionally engage locking links 34 pivoted on the base member ID which are actuated by locking levers 36.

Rigidly secured to the upper and outer faces of the retaining plates 24 and 26, adjacent the ends and central portions of each of said plates 2% and 26, are internally threaded bosses 38 that oppose internally threaded apertures 40 provided in said retaining plates. These apertures or bosses receivably engage threaded rods or guides 42 having axial bores 44 that slidably receive rods 46 having removable heads or stops 48 threaded on their outer ends.

The numeral 5|] represents a pair of semi-oval shaped pressure plates having central openings 52 to accommodate a hat 54 and convexed lower faces 55 conforming to the upper face of the hat brim I4. The inner edges of the plates 50 are provided with communicating notches 55 that loosely receive the bow 58 of the hat and to guide the hat brim in position between the base member and pressure plates.

In practical use of the device, the inner threaded ends 60 of the rods 46 fixedly engage threaded openings 62 in the pressure plates to retain the pressure plates relative to the retaining plates and the inner ends of the guides 42 abut the pressure plates. The arcuate retaining plates 24 and 26, and pressure plates 50 being pivoted outwardly so that a hat may be placed on the base member 10. The retaining plates and pressure plates are then pivoted inwardly so that the pressure plates 50 bear upon the outer face of the hat brim. By adjusting the fasteners 42 a selected amount, the desired pressure of the plates 59 on the brim may be maintained.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed new is:

1. A shape retainer for hats comprising a base, arcuate retainer members hinged on said base, pressure plates, adjustable guides carried by the members abutting the pressure plates, said guides having longitudinal bores, guide pins fixed to the pressure plates and slidably received in the bores in said guides, and means for locking the retainer members to said base.

2. A shape retainer for hats comprising a base, arcuate retainer members hinged on said base, pressure plates, adjustable guides carried by the members and abutting the pressure plates, said guides having longitudinal bores, guide pins fixed to the pressure plates slidably received in the bores in said guides, holding arms carried by the retainer members, and a pivotal locking link carried by the base for lockably engaging said holding arms.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein one of said pressure plates is provided with an arcuate notch for receiving the bow of a hat band ribbon.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 338,498 Eikemeyer Mar. 23, 1886 2,259,930 Gawelek Oct. 21, 1941 

